Member for Currumbin Jann Stuckey has spoken out following a report in the Gold Coast Bulletin today outlining Council’s intentions to link the current light rail to the airport.

The article details the council’s plans for stage three, which would see the transit system extend south to Burleigh and along the coast to the airport.

Currumbin MP Jann Stuckey says a survey response by only 3606 Gold Coast residents should not determine a light rail route for the region.

“An extensive consultation process should be undertaken before hundreds of thousands of dollars are spent on planning for a route that has not gained local community acceptance,” said Ms Stuckey.

“We cannot look at light rail in isolation, and need to approach it in a more holistic way by taking into consideration the impacts of future M1 upgrades and traffic movements.

Ms Stuckey says “Whilst I am a big supporter of public transport, I respect the views of residents in the Currumbin electorate who have indicated the priority for the Southern Gold Coast is the widening of the M1.

“When projects such as light rail arise it only pushes the larger, long awaited projects to the bottom of the pile.”

“Infrastructure projects that have this much impact upon a community need to be properly assessed with a full consultation process involving those directly affected.

Ms Stuckey continued to say “this council has already been criticised in the past for not undertaking proper consultation with communities e.g. the Bilinga – Tugun Oceanway.

“I encourage GCCC to invest in thorough community consultation. It’s a waste of ratepayers money to go ahead with this planning if the community are not in favour of even having the project in the first place.”